DurlachDurlach was bestowed by emperor Frederick II on the margrave Hermann
V of Zähringen as an allodial possession .

It was chosen by the margrave Charles II in 1565 as residence of the
rulers of
Baden-Durlach , and retained this distinction though it was
almost totally destroyed by the French in 1689.

MargraveMargrave Charles III William decided that he needed more space which
led to the foundation of
KarlsruheKarlsruhe in 1715, which three years later
became the new capital until the state was merged into the grand-duchy
of Baden. Church, town hall, market square

In 1846 it was the seat of a congress of the Liberal party of the
Baden parliament. In 1849 it was the scene of an encounter between the
Prussians and the insurgents.

In 1938
DurlachDurlach was incorporated into Karlsruhe, which had grown
bigger, with which it is connected by a canal and an avenue of
poplars, on the left bank of the
PfinzPfinz , at the foot of the
TurmbergTurmberg .

Important attractions are the
Karlsburg Castle in the centre, erected
in 1565 and later used as barracks, now with some museums an ancient
town hall, a church with an excellent organ, and in the market-place a
statue of the margrave Charles II.

The
TurmbergTurmberg ('tower hill') is a vineyard-covered hill of the
northernmost part of the
Black ForestBlack Forest . A castle ruin with watch-tower
are located on top of the Turmberg. The watch-tower in particular
offers fine views of
KarlsruheKarlsruhe towards the west and the Rhine River
valley. On very clear days even farther west the
VosgesVosges in France can
be seen. The Rhine River is the border between
GermanyGermany and
AlsaceAlsace area
of France. The South and East offer nice views of the Black Forest,
and since the
TurmbergTurmberg is the northernmost tip of the
Black ForestBlack Forest you
have hills more than actual mountains. A staircase leads all the way
up from the bottom of the hill to the top, however you can also ride
up using the
Turmbergbahn , a historic funicular railway . In recent
years the railway was changed from water gravity to electric.

ECONOMY

DurlachDurlach hosted several factories, producing sewing-machines (
Pfaff ),
brushes, chemicals, tobacco, beer, vinegar, chicory and pipe organs .
Now most manufacture has disappeared, except for a producer of
homeopathy and dietary supplements . IT companies have taken their
place, the biggest
Fiducia IT AG , which provides banking services for
most German credit unions .